What Role Did Slim and George's Comradery Take in Parts 5 & 6?

One underlying aspect of the book was the small almost friendship that began to grow throughout the chapters. Shortly after they first meet, Slim and George talk about Lennie and after that point, the two start to do more together while leaving Lennie behind. Sometimes it almost seemed like George was getting ready to move on. But then after George realized Lennie had killed Curley's wife and run, he seemed to be in a permanent state of shock for the rest of the book. But throughout all of it, Slim was helping George get through by offering his sympathy and advice. When Curley finds out what happened and goes on a rampage directed at Lennie, Slim tries to help by saying, "'Curley-maybe you better stay here with your wife'"(98). Without Slim at least attempting to calm Curley down, the entire ending of the book might have changed because of Curley or the police shooting Lennie. When they finally find Lennie and after George kills him, George is visibly shaken up and Slim goes to him to try to support him. Slim comes over, sees Lennie, and then turns to George,"'Come on, George. Me an' you'll go an' get a drink'"(107) The times that Slim and George spent together was foreshadowing for when George would have to kill Lennie. I believe that Steinbeck used the budding friendship of Slim and George to give the book a bittersweet ending. Although George had to kill his best friend, this also shows that he has a chance to start a new part of his life. He has a new chance of getting a different variation of the American dream that he had planned out all along.